CONTACT: Eric Durr, 518-786-4581

FOR RELEASE: Sunday, Sep 13, 2009

ON SITE: Major Keith Tryon (518) 813-1112.

WHO:

Lt. Col. John Burke, Lt. Col. Reginald Sanders, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Commander Col. Geoff Slack, and the Soldiers of the 27th Brigade Special troops Battalion.

WHAT:

BUFFALO, NY (09/11/2009)-- Lt. Col. John Burke, a full-time member of the New York Army National Guard and Iraq War veteran, will take command of the 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion from Lt. Col. Reginald Sanders on Sunday, Sept., 13 at the Connecticut Street Armory. Change of Command Ceremony to formally recognize the transfer of authority from one commander to another.

WHEN:

Sunday, 13 September 2009, 1 p.m

WHERE:

National Guard Armory, 184 Connecticut Street, Buffalo, New York

Coverage Opportunities: There will be an opportunity to interview both Lt. Col. Burke and Lt. Col. Sanders, about their military careers and the role of the 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion. Video opportunities include the transfer of the commands flag from the outgoing to the incoming commander and troops in formation. Members of the media wishing to cover the ceremony must contact Major Keith Tryon at 518-813-1112 in order to gain access to this secure military facility. Background: The Change of Command: The Change of Command Ceremony dates back to the days in which a military unit's flag marked its position in the line of battle. The colors were always near the commander, so troops knew where to rally on the battlefield. Today the transfer of the colors marks a change in the unit and givens the soldiers their first opportunity to see and hear their new leader. The change of command ceremony recognizes the accomplishments of the outgoing commander and the Soldiers who served under him. In addition, the ceremony identifies the new commander to the Soldiers, so they can follow him on the field of battle. Lt. Col John Burke: LTC John Burke began his military career in 1981 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. After serving four years on active duty he joined the United State Marine Corps Reserve. In 1995 he transferred to the New York Army National Guard and the 1st Battalion 108th Infantry in Buffalo. LTC Burke's assignments include platoon commander and company executive officer positions in the Marine Corps and tank company commander in the New York Army National Guard. In 1995 he joined the New York National Guard's Counterdrug Program and became a full-time Active Guard and Reserve officer in 2000. Other assignments include Acting Inspector General for the New York National Guard, and state Mobilization and Readiness Officer. He served in Baghdad, Iraq in 2005 as an advisor to Iraqi Army forces with the New York Army National Guard's 53rd Army Liaison Team. He also served as the Domestic Operations Officer for the National Guard during the response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York City. LTC Burke has a bachelor's degree from Villanova University and is also a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, and Army Command and General Staff College. His awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement medal with oak leaf cluster, Iraq Campaign Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Combat Action Badge. LTC Burke is married to Tamara Lynn Davis and they have two children; Joshua and Eammon. They currently reside in Glenville, New York but plan to move to Buffalo. Lt. Col. Reginald Sanders: LTC Sanders entered the Army as a private after graduating from Western New England College in 1983. In 1985 he attended the Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Ordnance Officer in 1985, serving in the 10th Mountain Division until 1989. He has now assumed command of the 153rd Troop Command, also headquartered at the Connecticut St. Armory. In 1989 he left active duty and joined the New York Army National Guard's 145th Maintenance Company, based at Fort Drum. He also began a civilian career as a manager at Chrysler in 1989, retiring as international customer relations manager for Europe in 2008. He currently serves as Superintendent of the National Guard Mobilization, Assistance Training Equipment Site at Fort Drum. He served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a liaison officer for the 42nd Infantry Division and also served in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. He has also served as a logistics training officer for the Albanian Army. His military positions include 27th Brigade Combat Team Rear Detachment Commander, Company Commander, and Brigade Logistics Officer. He was most recently commander of the 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion. His awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He has earned an Associate in Business Administration in 1981, from Holyoke Community College, in Holyoke Massachusetts, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management in 1983, from Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and a Master of Business Administration in 1997, from State University of Buffalo. He is currently in the final stage of earning his PhD in the area of Human resources and Leadership at North Central University. He is married to Judi Mckee-Sanders and resides in Sackets Harbor, New York. They have 5 children and 6 grandchildren. His daughter, Specialist April Torres, is also a member of the New York Army National Guard. 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion: The 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion is comprised of specialist units; combat engineers, military police, signal Soldiers, military intelligence Soldiers and other specialists which support the combat battalions of the 27th Brigade Combat Team. Members of the battalion served in Afghanistan with the 27th Brigade Combat Team in 2008. Their mission was to train the Afghan National Army and Police. .

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